Aurora's Point Of View

I rushed into the Little Louisa's Cafe whilst simultaneously finishing the last hair tie loop on my bun. Hopefully no one noticed I was a few minutes behind schedule, due to traffic.

"Hey angel, you look pretty today."

In disgust, I shot Dustin a look who was smirking from the coffee bar. He smirked at my grimaced face and put both hands over his green beanie. He was already here, he was already hitting on me today.

"I heard about a modeling job today that some girls were talking about in Algebra. Might be a nicer job than this coffee joint. Too bad they're looking for people with regular faces," He sneered and looked up at me and I wasn't even paying him notice. "But that's alright. I like that you've got a peculiar face. What I like even better on your body is,"-

"Dustin, please," I mumbled exasperatedly as I got my apron off a hook and started tying it around my waist.

"Can I get more coffee?" He called over the bustle of the busy cafe.

I yanked off a piece of paper taped to the counter and squinted at the orders on it.

"Can it wait? I've got like four orders here that need filling. I'm kind of in a rush."

"And I'm kinda gonna complain to your boss if I can't get more coffee."

"Fine," I slammed the paper down momentarily and shot him my best death glare, before picking up the coffee pot.

He smirked.

"Always complying for a command."

I gagged inwardly. He extended his hand just slightly so I had to reach over the counter to pour. I poured him a little coffee and set it down.

"More," He said, eyeing me.

I hate him. I leaned over slightly to reach his cup and pour.

"More," Dustin said, eyes filling with lust.

Mustering up the will to not punch him, I leaned over slightly more. His eyes dropped to where my apron was being pulled down, revealing my cleavage, filling with even more lust.

"More,"-

"Yeah, I think that's enough caffeine," Arlan cupped Dustin's shoulder with his tattooed hand and I abruptly stopped and gasped, pulling back.

I had completely forgotten that I invited him to visit me. I felt nervous being in the presence of both of them at the same time.

"Whatever...it's hot, just how I like it," Dustin smirked and winked at me.

"Excuse fucking you?" Arlan said, his throat tightening and his eyes sliding into small slits.

"Guys, please," I said worriedly, not wanting to get in trouble.

Dustin snorted and turned to me, then Arlan.

"You her boyfriend?" His brow raised up in judgement.

"Yeah I am, Johnny Bravo, now back the fuck away," Arlan said, buffing out his chest and slightly pushing Dustin.

Dustin scoffed a single laugh in disbelief.

"Aurora, who is this emo prick? Are you actually dating him?"

"I'm Arlan," Arlan wasted no time to introduce himself, brows furrowing darkly over his eyes.

"Arlan? Arlan Paris?" Dustin asked.

"In the flesh," Arlan clarified in a cocky tone as he smiled tightly, resisting the urge to seemingly strangle Dustin.

"I've heard things about you, Paris," Dustin said warily, his face growing concerned. "You dated Kacelynn. What are you doing bothering good girls? These girls are nice, they're not looking for your trouble."

"Oh why, cause that's your job?"

Dustin went to quickly defend himself before Arlan cut in.

"Sexually harrassing women at work, seemingly stalking them from the moment they walk in? Don't think I don't recognize creeps like you. I might be shit at doing school but I know a damn thing about people. Bad people in particular."

"Listen, punk, stay out of our lives," Dustin spat, before standing up and eyeing me, my body quivering.

"Aurora," Dustin said sharply, making me jump. "Tell this lunatic to get lost. Now."

Just as Arlan locked his jaw and curled his fist, ready to punch Dustin, I gasped and ran urgently around the bar.

"H-he's my boyfriend," I quickly assured, hugging my arms around Arlan's waist.

I had never touched a boy before and it felt foreign and uncomfortable. Arlan's tense body softened in seemingly a second with my touch. I looked up to see Dustin.

"Get out of here, Dustin. Leave me alone."

Dustin's eyes were wide as he looked back and forth between Arlan and I. He looked as though he had to say something but instead, pulled his beanie down slightly and rubbed his hands. With a shake of his head, he turned and left the cafe.

"H-hi, I'm so sorry," I said, pulling away, embarrassed.

Arlan laughed.

"See usually, it's get the phone number and then become the boyfriend. Not the other way around."

I laughed slightly. I was just so anxious, how was he able to make me laugh so quickly and alleviate my stress?

"I-I totally just made that up because he always harrasses me. That's Dustin, he lives in my foster home with me."

Arlan looked like he was resisting freaking out, and simply nodded.

"That's despicable. I'm sorry. But I don't care that you lied. I'm here to protect you," He gave me a gentle, affirming smile.

I felt a little confused hearing that, but also partly relieved. No one at the foster home ever took my complaints of Dustin seriously. If Arlan really would protect me of his behavior, and believe me, I would be forever thankful. I softly smiled back.

"Thanks."

"Now, if I remember correctly, you owe me something from this," He peered around, "very sophisticated cafe."

"Right, uh, can I get you a bagel, or a coffee.." I went around to the counter, back in work-mode.

"I'm more of a hot cocoa kinda guy."

My smile widened.

"M-me too..."

"Huh. See I knew you had more taste than peanut butter sandwiches."

I laughed loudly and it was the first time I had ever done so around him but I felt more comfortable today. His smile grew because he could sense my comfortability. I slightly rolled her eyes.

"Peanut butter's awesome, I don't know what you're talking about."

"Yeah, well, would you put it in hot chocolate?" He countered, seating himself on a stool.

"Well, some places have wacky hot chocolate flavors you wouldn't even think of. Like raspberry, cotton candy.."

"Cotton candy, now that's just one I'm dying to try."

I gave him a pursed smile at his sarcasm, and my eyes fell to his tattooed neck for a second. The tattoos were several numbers in different colors, all intertwined and hard to make meaning of. Just as he took notice of me looking I looked back up at him and smiled.

"Why don't we try some of those flavors and watch a movie in my theatre tomorrow?"

My face felt hot and my heartbeat quickened. Nobody had ever asked plans of me in my three years of high school, let alone a boy asking to hang out alone and watch a movie.

"Tomorrow's...Friday," I said.

"Yeah."

I gulped.

"I've never...I don't know. I've never really done that. Hung out with anyone, or a boy. A-and I should work, really, to make money. A-and what if my foster family gets mad about curfew? I"-

"Aurora, please," He gave me concerned eyes. "You're so anxious all the time, about everything. You make up excuses to restrict yourself from not feeling anxious. I wish you'd just take one night to relax and have some fun for once, without worrying. The world's not out to get you."

I poured the hot chocolate in a to-go cup. "Marshmallows?"

"Of course," he said, his face showing he wasn't done with the conversation.

I plopped a few in and they bobbed in the hot chocolate. "Whipped cream?"

"All or nothing, angel," He said, sighing. "Aurora"-

I popped off the top of the whipped cream can and swirled a perfect pyramind of fluffy whipped cream.

"Here," I pushed the cup towards him and he smiled. He took it and took a sip.

"It's perfect. Thank you. But I shouldn't be surprised that someone of your calliber serves nothing but the best."

"Please, it's just a hot chocolate," I shrugged and grinned amusedly, crossing my arms. He formed his lips to say something but grinned back instead.

"I should go. But...meet me tomorrow after school if you want to hang out and I'll give you a ride to my place." He wrote his number on a napkin and pushed it to me. "No pressure, Aurora. Stay safe, alright?"

I took it and found myself wordless. When I looked up, he was halfway out the door. Maybe I could trust him? No one had ever cared about me so much to notice something like Dustin's behavior.

Maybe I could use a friend like Arlan Paris.